GENERAL TOUGHSHIELD PLUS TRANSITION QUESTIONS
Are all steel tube fittings and adapters being upgraded to the new ToughShield Plus Zn-Ni (Zinc Nickel) plating?
Yes, nearly all plated carbon steel SAE and DIN tube fittings and adapters are being converted. Initial exclusions include:
• Oil dipped products, weld/braze fittings, hydraulic flanges, tubes, clamp components, and non-welded piping systems.
Are the part numbers changing with this upgrade in plating?
No. The part numbers remain the same. ToughShield Plus is our new standard plating on steel tube fittings and adapters so there is no special designation needed.
Don't your SAE tube fittings and adapters already have ToughShield plating?
Yes and No. We released ToughShield 1000 Zinc (Zn) plating on our SAE tube fittings and adapters in 2015 that provided an industry-leading 1000 hours of corrosion resistance per ASTM B117 salt spray testing.
ToughShield Plus is a Zinc-Nickel (Zn-Ni) plating, now provided on all steel SAE and DIN tube fittings and adapters, offering significantly more corrosion protection – up to 3,000 hours of corrosion resistance per ASTM B117 salt spray testing. Additionally, ToughShield Plus offers enhanced protection for the more corrosion vulnerable areas of fittings and adapters such as crimp nuts, back up washers, sharp corners, and threads.
What is different about the new plating upgrade?
The new plating upgrade provides an increase in corrosion resistance compared to Zinc plated steel parts. ToughShield Plus will offer up to 3000 hours of corrosion resistance as tested to ASTM B117/ISO 9227 salt spray testing.
Does ToughShield Plus plating look different than Parker’s existing Zinc (Zn) plating?
There is a minor color change in the plating from silver to gray (see photo below). However, the color change and plating change does not change assembly and installation procedures and is compatible with existing Parker zinc plated tube fittings and adapters, so it is a seamless transition.
Parker fittings with ToughShield Plus plating (left) and existing Zinc plating (right)
Will there be Packaging or Labeling differences for ToughShield Plus parts on Parker factory packaged products?
Yes, since part numbers are not changing, Parker will provide the ToughShield Plus indicator on the box/bag labels (see photos below).
PLATING CHEMISTRY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
What’s the difference between Zinc (Zn) Plating and Zinc-Nickel Plating (Zn-Ni)?
Zinc and zinc-nickel are both electrodeposited plating processes and provide sacrificial protection for the base steel metal of fittings. Zinc-nickel is considered an alloy plating process (combining both Zinc and Nickel) and will provide longer corrosion protection due to the addition of nickel.
Is ToughShield Plus plating considered Nickel Plating?
No. Electrodeposited (electroplated) zinc nickel (Zn-Ni) plating is NOT the same as electroless nickel plating (EN) (or ENI) and should not be considered a general substitute for applications where electroless nickel plating is being used on steel or brass fittings. Consult TFD or HPCE for specific questions related to compatibility.
Is ToughShield Plus resistant to certain fertilizers similar to the Parker XTR Coating offered on SAE tube fittings and adapters?
Yes, it is. ToughShield Plus, as our new standard plating on all steel tube fittings and adapters (SAE and DIN), will also provide additional protection for corrosion resistance to urea/nitrogen-based fertilizers commonly used by OEMs. Previously, OEMs could only get this protection by purchasing special Parker XTR coated SAE tube fittings and adapters, which were subject to additional lead times and added cost.
Does ToughShield Plus replace the XTR coating currently offered as a special for SAE tube fittings and adapters?
The XTR coating offered on SAE tube fittings and adapters will eventually be switched to the Toughshield Plus plating, leaving one primary steel plating technology.
Is there a color difference between the XTR coating and ToughShield Plus plating?
No, the color difference between both is very minimal.
PERFORMANCE QUESTIONS
Are there any assembly and installation procedure changes?
No. The upgrade in corrosion protection to ToughShield Plus is literally "drop in compatible" for customers. There are no changes to Parker published assembly and installation procedures with Toughshield Plus.
Consistency in assembly methods also includes the following mixed plating scenarios:
• ToughShield Plus plating to/with current Zinc plated tube fittings and adapters
• Parker zinc plated hose swivel connections
Is ToughShield Plus plating compatible with the fluids and gases used in my application as well as the operating environment?
Generally, most media and environments that are compatible with zinc are also compatible with zinc-nickel. Zinc-Nickel plating has been and continues to be widely accepted within the industrial, and mobile/ transportation segments.
It is however ultimately the responsibility of the user to ensure compatibility of materials, including plating, that is compatible with both media and operating environments.
Do tube fittings and adapters with ToughShield Plus meet the requirements of SAE and ISO standards?
Yes, tube fittings and adapters with ToughShield Plus plating continue to meet all requirements of these industry governing standards, including pressure ratings and corrosion protection. In fact, ToughShield Plus far exceeds the corrosion protection requirements of these standards.
Will approvals such as ABS, DNV-GL, and CRNs be affected by this plating change?
No. All existing type approvals, product approvals, and CRN (provincial Canadian Registration Numbers) remain unaffected.
Will the implementation of ToughShield Plus affect the gravimetric or general part cleanliness?
Please consult your Parker distributor, sales company, territory manager, or account manager for technical information related to Parker’s ToughShield Plus plating system or contact us.
Does combining zinc-plated and ToughShield Plus plated zinc-nickel tube fittings, adapters, and hose fittings provide an increased concern for galvanic (contact) corrosion?
Zinc and ToughShield Plus Zinc-Nickel plating exhibit nearly identical galvanic properties and can be used interchangeably without a noticeable increase in contact/galvanic corrosion. Consult the Electromotive/Galvanic Series Chart published in the General Technical Section of Parker’s 4300 catalog or contact us for additional technical support.
My specification or print specifies Zinc (Zn) plating. Does Toughshield Plus (Zn-Ni) meet this requirement?
Plating specifications will typically provide a corrosion resistance requirement in hours of neutral salt spray testing (SST). While zinc-nickel plating is not the same as zinc plating, the corrosion resistance performance of ToughShield Plus zinc-nickel plating is significantly improved over zinc plating.
It is ultimately the responsibility of the user to determine compliance to their specification. Parker can provide guidance upon request.
Do Parker fittings with ToughShield Plus plating remain paintable?
Yes, Parker products with ToughShield Plus plating are dry to touch, silicone free and paintable. The surface properties of fittings will remain relatively unchanged. Users are encouraged to continue to follow their traditional painting procedures.
Does ToughShield Plus comply with environmental directives of REACH – RoHS – ELV?
ToughShield Plus plating is Chromium VI-free, which means it complies with the Directive EC 1907/2006 (REACH), Directive EC 2015/863 (RoHS), Directive EC 2000/53 (End of Life Vehicles Directive) and EC 1257/2013 ship recycling requirements. In summary, ToughShield Plus does not contain substances that require formal EC declarations. Documents can be found on parker.com.